Sensory processing correlates with adaptive behaviors but not with symptom severity in Italian children with autism spectrum disorders

Ilaria Basadonne, Viola Passani, Romina Cagiano, Roberta Nencioli, Valeria Costanzo, Francesca Giorgetti, Jacopo Frinzi, Sara Calderoni, Alice Mancini, Federica Caccia, Sara Isoli, Riccardo Atzei, Paola Venuti, Leonardo Zoccante, Raffaella Tancredi

First published April 8, 2025

Abstract

Besides social communication difficulties and the presence of repetitive behaviors and restricted
interests, autism spectrum disorders (ASD) often embrace sensory atypicalities. The present study aims to assess the
sensory processing profile of a sample of Italian ASD children and to test its association with both their symptom severity
and adaptive functioning. Parents of 76 ASD children completed the Child Sensory Profile 2 – Italian version (CSP-2) and
the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales – Second Edition (VABS-II). Spearman correlation was calculated between the
CSP-2 quadrant and section scores and the ADOS-2 Calibrated severity scores as well as between the CSP-2 quadrant
and section scores and the VABS-II (Communication, Daily living skills, and Socialization standard scores). Our sample
showed widespread sensory processing atypicalities. No statistically significant association emerged between sensory
profile and ASD symptom severity. Instead, we highlighted a moderate to high negative association between VABS-II
Communication and Socialization and all quadrants, except Avoiding. Our findings suggest the importance of an early
evaluation of the sensory profile to help parents and healthcare professionals take these aspects into consideration both
in daily life and in rehabilitation treatment.

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Basadonne Ilaria . Passani Viola . Cagiano Romina . Nencioli Roberta . Costanzo Valeria . Giorgetti Francesca . Frinzi Jacopo. Calderoni Sara . Mancini Alice . Caccia Federica . Isoli Sara . Atzei Riccardo . Venuti Paola . Zoccante Leonardo . Tancredi Raffaella . Sensory processing correlates with adaptive behaviors but not with symptom severity in Italian children with autism spectrum disorders. BPA Applied Psychology Bulletin. 2025;15.

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Sensory processing correlates with adaptive behaviors but not with symptom severity in Italian children with autism spectrum disorders

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